General News of Saturday, 7 February 2015

Source: GNA

KATH Interchange Project frozen

An interchange that was supposed to be built at the Komfo-Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Roundabout, with underpasses and a six-lane asphalt surfaced dual-carriageway, as part of the “Reconstruction of Sunyani Road in Kumasi Project,” has been put on hold.

This would have linked the Sofoline Interchange to allow the free flow of traffic on the 11.2-kilometre road stretch from Kejetia to Abuakwa.

Mr. Theodore Quaye, Ashanti Regional Director of Urban Roads, said that part of the project would not be tackled now.

He said they were concentrating efforts on finishing the six-kilometre Apatrapa Junction-Bekwai Roundabout portion, where the Sofoline Interchange is located.

He said the contractors had completed more than five kilometres of the six-lane dual-carriageway (asphaltic concrete paved), and were working on the road-line markings, signage, streetlights, drainage and underpasses.

Mr. Quaye told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that construction works on the less than one kilometre left (between Boggies Supermarket-Bekwai Roundabout), would start next week.

He said the contractors had to pause to allow the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to relocate a 33 KVA electric cable, and with this done, there could not be any excuse for delay.

Mr. Quaye said the expectation was that the targeted six kilometres would be ready within three months.

The 11.2-kilometre road reconstruction project was started in year 2007, and is being undertaken by the China Engineering Corporation.

It is being implemented through government funding.